The United Nations Security Council extended the mandate
of the UN Observer Mission in Angola (MONUA) to 6 February
1999 as fighting between government forces and the
rebel UNITA movement intensified this week. The UN
also appealed to the international donor community
for US $66.7 million for humanitarian aid.

Western diplomats and analysts in the Angolan capital,
Luanda, reported increased fighting all week along
north-south front of some 300 km between the central
towns of Kuito and Quela and government forces sought
to seize UNITA strongholds. In what was described to
IRIN as a state of undeclared war, the clashes started
at the weekend after a group of 14 MONUA observers
held for a month in two UNITA-controlled towns were
airlifted to safety.

Through the Portuguese-language media at home and abroad,
both sides engaged in a war of words. In his opening
address to the fourth ruling MPLA party congress which
ended on Friday, President Jose Eduardo dos Santos
called the UNITA leader Jonas Savimbi "a running
dog" of "the agents of foreign interests"
who had long sought to dominate Angola and exploit
its wealth.

His speech was carried in a Radio Angola report monitored
by the BBC: "All attempts that we have made to
integrate him in normal life have been fruitless. All
patriots who are active in UNITA ranks have also come
to the same conclusion. Against the murderous wrath
of that man we must, therefore, mobilise and unite
all the Angolan people," he said. "The only
way to attain definitive peace today is to isolate
Dr Savimbi and his warmongering wing domestically and
internationally, as well as to neutralize him politically
and militarily."

On Monday, a day after the weekend speech, Portuguese
Renascenca radio carried the UNITA reaction from its
Secretary-General Paulo Lukamba Gato: "Jose Eduardo
dos Santos has declared war. Not only did he declare
war but his forces are acting on it. I must tell you
that at the moment we are being bombed." He added:
"I can also tell you that at the moment Jose Eduardo
dos Santos is moving troops from Quitona to Huambo...
The congress speech is irrelevant. We shall see on
the ground what will happen."

Meanwhile, the UN Humanitarian Assistance Coordination
Unit (UCAH) in Luanda told IRIN that the number of
internally displaced people had increased from 350,000
confirmed last week to 360,000 or more.

"Current military activities in central parts of
the country will undoubtedly have their impact on vulnerable
groups. But the consequences will only be seen in the
weeks to come," a spokesman said.

In New York, when the appeal for US $66.7 million was
made, the UN reported that sustained conflict, renewed
laying of anti-personnel mines, widespread banditry
and insecurity had "all created a dramatic impact
on the already devastated conditions in Angola"
where the under-five mortality rate was almost 30 percent
and where only 31 percent of the population had access
to clean drinking water.

In the resolution extending the MONUA mandate, the Security
Council said, "the primary cause of the crisis
in Angola and of the current impasse in the peace process
is the failure by the leadership of UNITA" to
comply with its obligations under the UN-brokered Lusaka
Protocol of 1994. It called on UNITA, which has been
at war with the government since independence in 1975,
"to comply immediately and without conditions
with its obligations" of complete demilitarisation
of its forces and full cooperation in the "immediate
and unconditional" extension of State administration
throughout the country.

Following grim reports over the past month on the deteriorating
humanitarian situation and increased fighting in Angola,
the Security Council said both sides should cooperate
more closely with UN Special Representative Issa Diallo.

COMORO ISLANDS: OAU military chiefs seek to defuse crisis

A delegation of African military chiefs flew from South
Africa to the Indian Ocean Comoro Islands this week
in a bid to seek ways of mediating an end to secessionist
fighting which has already claimed over 40 lives since
the weekend.

A South African government spokesman told IRIN the delegation
led by South African army Brigadier-General Jan Lusse,
with senior officers from Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique,
Kenya and Tanzania, would make recommendations on behalf
of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) at a meeting
in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, next week.

After meetings with South African officials, OAU Secretary-General
Salim Ahmed Salim said no decisision about any military
intervention would be taken until the officers reported
back. "The use of force is the last possible consideration,"
Salim told a news conference in the South African capital,
Pretoria. "The objective of this mission is to
make a proper, professional assessment of the situation
and examine all the options on how to assist in the
restoration of the normal situation in Anjouan and
how to end the current state of affairs."

Map: http://www.expediamaps.com/results.asp?Place=Comoros

A militia faction seized control of the capital of Anjouan,
where summary executions, looting and burning have
followed three days of fierce fighting since Saturday
in which the South African government spokesman said
more than 40 people had been killed.

"It is a difficult situation, made worse by economic
deprivation in the islands of Anjouan and Moheli where
secessionists are seeking closer ties with Paris as
French overseas territories like the other island in
the archipelago, Mayotte," the spokesman said.
"This is a country which has suffered some 17
coups in the last 15 years."

Salim said he was concerned at a growing humanitarian
crisis in which thousands of people had been forced
to flee their homes. The OAU, he added, had received
a number of appeals for intervention from the Comoran
government - "not an intervention to settle the
political problem, but a humanitarian intervention
to save lives and so on."

A senior South African diplomat told IRIN it was ironic
that Salim had arrived in South Africa on Sunday night,
to explore earlier plans of an inter-island conference
to prevent just such an outbreak of violence.

LESOTHO: Interim political authority sworn in

An Interim Political Authority (IPA) representing the
country 24 political parties was sworn in this week
to govern the country and prepare it for a general
election in the year 2000.

The structure came into being after a South African-led
military intervention which was sent in three months
ago under the auspices of the Southern African Development
Community (SADC) to prevent a coup.

The IPA will also establish a new Independent Electoral
Commission to recruit and train election officers.

Concern for journalist

Meanwhile, the international press freedom watchdog,
Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF), said this week it
was concerned for the plight of a journalist in Lesotho
who had criticised the South African-led military intervention
in the mountain kingdom.

In a letter to the South African defence ministry, a
copy of which was sent to IRIN, RSF said the journalist,
Naleli Ntlama had been in hiding since 26 November
after South African soldiers had visited his house
and left a message saying they would "be back".
They had earlier ransacked the house after he had published
an article calling the intervention an "invasion"
and an "occupation". RSF called on the South
African authorities to stop the harassment and to identify
and punish the soldiers responsible.

SOUTHERN AFRICA: Executive Outcomes announces its closure

The controversial military organisation, Executive Outcomes
(EO) this week said it would close down at the end
of the month. The move was announced as the South African
parliament prepared to promulgate legislation in the
New Year which will outlaw mercenary activities.

EO, which was the focus of a UN investigation of mercenary
activities, made the announcement in a terse statement
at a shareholders meeting in the South African capital,
Pretoria. Its director, Nico Palm, said the company
"looked back with pride" at what he called
successful contributions to the peace processes in
Angola and Sierra Leone.

"Over the past two years, the majority of governments
in Africa have endeavoured to achieve and maintain
law and order. The nature of these efforts do no justify
EO's involvement," Palm said.